Epe General Hospital was elevated to Federal Medical Centre, Epe, by the Lagos State Government upon its transfer to the Federal Government.

The federal and state governments, respectively, represented by Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, signed the handover agreement.

The Lagos Trauma Conference 2024, hosted by the State Ministry of Health, saw the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government and the State of Lagos on Thursday at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos.

Speaking at the transfer, Alausa stated that the newly named FMC will have the capacity to provide a wide range of specialised medical services, such as paediatric care with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for critically ill newborns and an advanced Medical ICU for adults. He also mentioned that the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which the Federal Government plans to establish soon on the same axis, will use the Epe FMC as its clinical posting site for students. The Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine will allow students pursuing courses in acupuncture, naturopathy, homoeopathy, chiropractic medicine, osteopathy, and herbal medicine to obtain practical experience in a top-notch medical facility.

By the following year, a School of Nursing is intended to be established at the site, providing even more support for healthcare education. Healthcare professionals will receive vital training from this new nursing school, guaranteeing that the next generation of nurses is ready to give the highest quality of care.

“By expanding the scope of treatments and integrating nursing and complementary medicine programs, this initiative is anticipated to greatly improve healthcare services accessibility for the residents of Epe and the surrounding areas.”

The Federal Government and other states now look to Lagos State as a model state, he continued.

Sanwo-Olu, for his part, called the step a game-changer that will impact how Lagos provides healthcare in the future and added that it further proved the value of constructive cooperation between the federal and state governments.

“The modernisation of Epe General Hospital represents a new phase in our unceasing endeavours to increase our residents’ access to high-quality healthcare,” he declared. The hospital’s transformation as a Federal Medical Centre is a revolutionary move that will influence how healthcare is provided in Lagos going forward.

This trend is in line with the discussion we are having right now, particularly with regard to the conference’s topic, which is improving trauma treatment and handling crises for a vibrant Lagos. This is a component of our goal to guarantee Lagos is a prosperous, safe city that is worthy of being called home.

He mentioned that the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a new specialised training facility in Ilara Igboye, Epe Division, is set to be established as a result of the recent partnership between Lagos and the Federal Government.